Losing a tooth is an unfortunate, but not altogether uncommon, experience. If such a misfortune does befall you, either by losing a tooth on its own or needing a tooth to be removed for surgical purposes, then you will need to figure out exactly how you want to replace that tooth. You have three main options, which are dentures, bridges, and implants. Here are some various considerations that you should keep in mind when you are deciding between the three:

First of all, do you need to get your tooth replaced at all?

In almost every case, you want to get your tooth replaced as soon as humanly possible. The longer that you let your gums be exposed, the higher your chances are of getting an infection. Without a tooth, it is very easy for bacteria to get deep inside your gums, where it can fester and create extremely painful infections. If your gums are infected, the you can easily lose the surrounding teeth, either due to structural instability or infection of the teeth themselves. Therefore, you should replace your teeth as soon as you can decide which option is best for you.

Which is the cheapest?

If your primary concern is cost, then dentures are often the best choice. Bridges are somewhat more expensive, but implants will almost always be the most expensive. A single implant can even cost as much as an entire set of dentures. Of course, you do get what you pay for, especially if you opt for the cheapest type of dentures.

There are a wide variety of materials to choose from, with some offering a better appearance, more comfort, or higher durability. For instance, ceramic and porcelain look just like normal teeth, with extremely high durability, yet also tend to cost a lot more. Resin is quite cheap, but might not necessarily last you quite as long before you need to get a replacement.

Which is the most comfortable?

If money is not an issue, then you biggest concern is likely to be the comfort of the apparatus. Dental implants will be almost undetectable once they have been installed, since they are basically teeth without nerves. You will never need to take them out to clean them and they are anchored quite securely to your jaw.

Bridges are similar, but they do rely on the stability of the two adjacent teeth to remain intact. If either of those teeth are damaged, then the replacement tooth can move at unnatural angles, digging into your gums. Otherwise, bridges will often feel extremely natural and you won't even notice that you have them.

Finally, dentures can be uncomfortable, but only if you opt for a cheaper set. Higher-end dentures offer a great deal of comfort, with the added benefit that they can be taken out of your mouth whenever you want. Of course, you will need to keep them in whenever you chew or want to have a pearly smile, but many sets of dentures can rest comfortably in your mouth. For more information, talk to a dental professional like Michele A Bibeau DDS.